Wide-area-network wireless modem with embedded communication protocol

Abstract

A wireless modem is connectable to a user device, in which application software is “wireless unaware” and does not require an application programmer to consider particularities of wireless communication protocols, via a serial port. The serial port of the wireless modem receives user data transmitted by the user device in accordance with a communications protocol for wireline transmission. An output port of the modem is connectable to an antenna. A processing unit is coupled to the serial port and the output port and includes an embedded communication protocol for wireless data communication. The processing unit processes the user data received from the serial port in accordance with the embedded communication protocol.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A modem connectable to a portable or embedded computer in which application software is “wireless unaware” and does not require an application programmer to consider particularities of wireless communication protocols, the modem comprising: 
 a serial port connectable to a portable or embedded computer, the serial port configured to receive from the portable computer user data transmitted in accordance with a communication protocol for wireline transmission;  
 an output port connectable to an antenna; and  
 a processing unit coupled to the serial port and the output port and comprising an embedded communication protocol for wireless data communication over a predetermined radio network, the processing unit configured to process the user data received from the serial port in accordance with the embedded communication protocol.  
 
     
     
         2 . A wireless communication system in which application software in a user computer is “wireless unaware” and does not require an application programmer to consider particularities of wireless communication protocols, the system comprising: 
 a user computer;  
 a modem connectable to the user computer, the modem comprising: 
 a serial port connectable to the user computer, the serial port configured to receive from the user computer user data transmitted in accordance with a communication protocol for wireline transmission;  
 an output port connectable to an antenna; and  
 a processing unit coupled to the serial port and the output port and comprising an embedded communication protocol for wireless data communication over a predetermined radio network, the processing unit configured to process the user data received from the serial port in accordance with the embedded communication protocol; and  
 a host system configured to communicate with the modem via a radio network.  
 
 
     
     
         3 . A method of transmitting data in a wireless communication system in which application software in a user computer is “wireless unaware” and does not require an application programmer to consider particularities of wireless communication protocols, the method comprising: 
 transmitting user data in accordance with a communication protocol for wireline transmission to a wireless modem;  
 processing the user data within the wireless modem in accordance with an embedded communication protocol for wireless data communication over a predetermined radio network; and  
 transmitting the user data in accordance with the embedded communication protocol via a radio network to a host system.  
 
     
     
         4 . A modem configured to operate in a wireless communication system, comprising: 
 a serial port connectable to a user device, the serial port configured to receive from the user device user data transmitted in accordance with a communication protocol for wireline transmission;    an output port connectable to an antenna; and    a processing unit coupled to the serial port and the output port and comprising an embedded communication protocol for wireless data communication, the processing unit configured to process the user data received from the serial port in accordance with the embedded communication protocol.    
     
     
         5 . The modem of  claim 1 , further comprising a power supply connectable to an external power source.  
     
     
         6 . The modem of  claim 5 , wherein the external power source is a battery of a vehicle.  
     
     
         7 . The modem of  claim 1 , further comprising a receiver for a positioning system, the receiver being coupled to the processing unit and providing input data to the modem for transmission via the antenna.  
     
     
         8 . The modem of  claim 1 , further comprising a buffer associated with the serial port and the processing unit, the buffer configured to store the user data received from the user device.  
     
     
         9 . The modem of  claim 8 , wherein the processing unit obtains the user data from the buffer and packetizes the user data in accordance with a predetermined packet structure.  
     
     
         10 . The modem of  claim 9 , further comprising a first-in, first-out (FIFO) memory associated with the buffer and the processing unit, the FIFO memory configured to store the packetized user data.  
     
     
         11 . A wireless communications system, comprising: 
 a user device;    a modem connectable to the user device, the modem comprising: 
 a serial port connectable to the user device, the serial port configured to receive from the user device user data transmitted in accordance with a communications protocol for wireline transmission;  
 an output port connectable to an antenna; and  
 a processing unit coupled tot he serial port and the output port and comprising an embedded communication protocol for wireless data communication, the processing unit configured to process the user data received from the serial port in accordance with the embedded communication protocol; and  
   a host system configured to communicate with the modem via a radio network.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the embedded communication protocol is configured for a predetermined radio network.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the user device is portable and releasably connectable to the modem.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the modem is located within a vehicle.  
     
     
         15 . A method of transmitting data in a wireless communication system, comprising: 
 transmitting user data in accordance with a communication protocol for wireline transmission to a wireless modem;    converting the user data within the wireless modem in accordance with an embedded communication protocol for wireless data communication; and    transmitting the user data in accordance with the embedded communication protocol via a radio network to a host system.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising monitoring a serial port of the modem for incoming user data.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising setting a flag indicating that user data is available at the modem.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein converting the user data includes packetizing the user data in accordance with the embedded communication protocol.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein packetizing the user data includes at least adding a source address, a destination address, and the user data as payload.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising storing a packet in a non-volatile memory within the modem.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising detecting whether the modem receives an acknowledgement indicating that a transmitted packet has been received.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein detecting includes determining whether the radio network and the host system acknowledge receipt.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising discarding the packet from the non-volatile memory upon an acknowledgment from the radio network and the host system.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising, upon a negative acknowledgement from the radio network, determining if the radio network is available, and, upon confirmed availability, re-transmitting the packet.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising, upon a negative acknowledgement from the host system, re-transmitting the packet to the host system upon expiration of a time.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising indicating that the host system is unavailable, and placing the packet at an end of a transmit queue of the non-volatile memory.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising receiving a packet at the modem from the host system via the radio network.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising obtaining payload data from the packet by removing at least a source address and a destination address from the packet, and storing the payload data within the modem.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising transmitting the payload data from the modem to the user device.